Zhimon noticed the foolish orc's condition. He was not surprised, tempt fate one to many times and you will quickly find it. He wondered what would happen first, the orc asking for help or falling before his pride. There was no use for pride in the darklands, it only got you killed.

Oh so close, You only need to make the save once to cure.
Klug takes another point of DEX damage *GM winces* ow that is starting to hurt.
Still need more fort saves. Just roll three more. Once you get 14 your cured.

Xzevrra near falls over in her attempt to push as Harn shoves the thing off the branch with ease. With the path now clear you all continue forward. You follow the "trail" fof several hours seeing nothing off interest for sometime. The path just keeps going up.

After a good long hike you finally reach what appears to be the ceiling. You find what appears to be a 3 foot high cave just next to the tree path leading into the ceiling. Otherwise there is nowhere else to go.

"So into the hole or not? I'm not too fond of cramped spaces and all, and this could easily be that thing's nest. Hate to have a bunch of it's babies crawling all over us in a tight space. Or it's mother." Xzevrra cautiously looks inside for a better picture of where it leads, staying well clear and ready to leap back if needed.

"The raft is not an option, not for me. You dont seem to understand that just because we are in the darklands it does not mean we lack seas as vast as your own. Ours are just more dangerous, their could be swarms of spiders like the one we just met that "fish" from the cavern roof. Along with worst things, not to mention how do you intend to know which direction your going. Their is endless darkness, being at the mercy of the waves would have us drifting in circles without end or crush us into a stone wall. Their is a reason that the only owner of a raft is aquatic in nature."

He let that those thoughts sink in. These uplanders needed to throw away what they thought they knew.

Harn crawls into the tunnel. If the others choose to they can follow. Little spiders scurry about and you make your way though but they don't seem to interested in attacking and pretty much let you pass. You crawl for HOURS on your hands and knees through this tunnel seeing no sign of an exit. After awhile fatigue will set in unless you rest.

What'll it be?
Push on and suffer fatigue in hopes of finding the exit to this tunnel?
Or Sleep for a bit in this tight space.
Or go could turn back too.

You trudge on for a few more hours, fatigue finally setting in. After awhile Harn finds a well lit hole in the ceiling just ahead.

Upon further investigation, you discover the space beyond is another well lit forest. Only difference is the light is coming from the stone ceiling and not the plants. It is nearly as tranquil as any surface forest but it is clear you are still very far underground.

Perception DC 15 and not sensitive to light.:

In the distance you can see what looks like a sizable stone village on the edge of this strange forest. It would only be a good hour hike to reach it with your fatigue.

"Uh, folks, there's a village of some sort made out of stone way over there. It'd take us about an hour to reach it in our current state."

The half-orc paused for a moment. "Considering that we're a rather motley bunch, I have to agree with Zhimon. If they turn out to be hostile--and face it, this is the Darklands--we'd be at a distinct disadvantage."

"I don't have a problem taking one of the middle watches. I'm used to sleeping in shifts," Harn said cheerily.

"I'll take first watch with you. If there is a village, they may send out patrols. The first two hours will tell a good bit. Though anyone living in a place like this, I don't trust."

"Thank you for lending your eyes to the task then. And well," He smiles noting the trancing priest but continues to speak to her, "This IS the darklands... it is not as other lands etc etc etc ad infinitum.

You all rest without incident. "Day" does not seem to come or go. The lights are lit for the entire duration of your rest. Once you have all finished resting and consuming your rations Be sure and mark that You are all properly rested and Klug feels the spider venom seems to be getting better. One point healed Now what do you folks do?

"Well I would like to know what dwells in that village. Depending on the race it could be dangerous for some. My people are not well recieved among most darkland races. No point in bring undue attention if they would deal with a human or orc but not a drow for example."

Normally drow were feared, a drow war party was not something to bring down on yourself. But if they were far enough away from a drow city or dealing with foolish creatures then that threat would be meaningless. Few would pass up the chance to murder a drow if they could get away with it.

Harn stretched mightily when he awoke, and chased off the last remnants of a dream involving a certain drow female.

Giving her his friendliest smile (which, admittedly, still looked like that of a feral beast) he said, "Good morning Xzevrra."

Turning to include the others, he continued, "Good morning, everyone. Well, do we avoid the stone village, or go and see if they're willing to talk to us?"

Xzevrra gives the half-orc a playful smile, "And good morning to you as well, Harn. Another morning without your throat slit, you did good yesterday.""When we get back, I will be making him my personal slave."

Zhimon Radsamhin wrote:

"Well I would like to know what dwells in that village. Depending on the race it could be dangerous for some. My people are not well recieved among most darkland races. No point in bring undue attention if they would deal with a human or orc but not a drow for example."

"Yes, we don't have the forces necessary to show them their place. And this accursed light." The assassin looks up and squints at the source for only a moment. "It would probably be better for someone more accustomed to this brightness to try sneaking a peak at our neighbors."